Prior to Brain Awareness Week, we encouraged you to watch our video on how to organize a successful brain fair, and now that Brain Awareness Week is here, we encourage you to see one in action! Across the globe, brain fairs—stations with activities and information about the brain set up at hospitals, universities, community centers, and more—are a popular activity for organizers and attendees alike. They’re a great way to share a range of brain science topics, while also drawing attention to the work or focus of the organizer.

In New York City this week, we have our pick of brain fairs to attend—so we’ve chosen to attend several of them! We offer some highlights in photos from the NYC brain fair scene.

Brain Awareness Week (BAW) has finally arrived, and brain-related festivities are kicking off all over the world! Getting an early start, the BioBus pulled over in New York City’s bustling neighborhood of Harlem this past Saturday. Crowds gathered around the display tables stationed outside of the repurposed, 1970s school bus and climbed up the stairs into the mobile science laboratory. braiNY volunteers passed out Dana Foundation publications and brain-shaped materials at one table, while the other table had diagrams, plasticine models, and microscope slides of parts of real brains. At a glance, one could easily overlook the fluid-filled containers resting on the table. But upon closer inspection, it became clear that those containers held whole, human brains!